“First Nations in Manitoba suing province, company over logging on traditional lands” 27 Feb, 2022

Two First Nations in Manitoba are suing the Manitoba government and logging giant Louisiana-Pacific Canada, saying they were not consulted prior to timber cutting on their traditional lands.

Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation and Minegoziibe Anishinaabe, also known as Pine Creek First Nation, are turning to the courts to force the Manitoba government and Louisiana-Pacific to consult with them on commercial timber cutting...

“I just want...accountability of where you’re cutting, what you’re doing...” said Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation Chief Elwood Zastre.

Wuskwi Sipihk filed their lawsuit on Feb. 23, 2022, asking for a stop to ongoing logging and other forestry development.

“It’s hurting our environment, it’s affecting our animals, it’s affecting where we gather medicine...it’s affecting everything. And if they’d just come down and sit down with us and understand the way we live and how we want to protect our animals...we’re not asking much,” said Chief Zastre...

“You’re taking all our trees and you’re selling them to whoever making money, why don’t you maybe compensate us a bit. Give us some money for our houses, give us money for infrastructure, a skating rink, anything for kids to benefit from that’s all I’m asking.”

The claim by Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation follows a similar court action filed earlier this year in January...

The Manitoba government said they were unable to comment on the matter as it is before the courts.

Louisiana-Pacific provided APTN News with a statement on the matter.

“Although we cannot comment on pending legal matters, LP remains committed to engaging with Indigenous nations regarding our sustainable forest management operations,” the statement said...

The hearing dates for Pine Creek and Wuskwi Sipihk are March 1, 2022, and March 15, 2022, respectively.